UT: SDSU players read this Bill Walton speaks on

[wakelaunch]

Aztecs.

I hope all the players read this.

www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/17/walton-hopes-aztecs-mature-enough-keep-working-har/

[AztecFemBone]

/Facebooked ...

[aztec4life09]

Great article, but honestly couldn't they have chosen a picture with, say, some fans???

[tuff]

Very well written. Take it one game at a time.

[jcljorgenson]

When I heard Walton was going to speak, for some reason I was expecting to roll my eyes, but he has some good words of wisdom in that article. A nice read.

[Village Aztec]

Tim Vitze a very under rated BB coach tried to recruit Bill Walton. If he had we would not have had to wait 40 years for a great Aztec Team

[seggy]

anyone else think the thread said Billy White? not Bill Walton

maybe its a sign?

[azdick]

Kowtow to the opportunity. Honor your teammates. Seize the moment.

[tonatiuh]

It really was a great article, and since his son played here I think Bill has become an Aztec fan.

[franklinmint]

My favorite quote from that article:

“It’s a bit disconcerting that this team comes out and plays flat in early moments,” he said. “In college basketball, there are so few games. It’s a celebration of life, but you only have it twice a week. Bring it! When the red light goes on, be ready to explode..."

Walton is so dead on. For me at least,college was the best time of my life,but like most good things,there was just so little of it -- it was such a blur;great memories and great times,but a blur nonetheless. ...All any current player has to do to catch what Walton is getting at here is to ask a former player -- ANY former player -- if any of their experiences since they've left have matched or exceeded their college experience? Play like it's your last game every time you set foot on the court because you'll never duplicate this special time ever again,and it will be gone fast enough...April is just around the bend.

[NTU]

For my money, the most poignant quote from Walton of the article:

“The kids have to realize their days in college are their best days. They have to realize that by working together anything is possible. We see it regularly from Duke. Coach Fisher has put together a team with exquisite perimeter play; great, dominant inside play and a relentless offensive attack. There is a real chance for them to do something special.”

But he then added: “Only if you remain humble and hungry and realize how fragile everything is. That’s where maturity can come in.”

That, to me, is the most important point. Yeah, they're 19-0. Yeah, they're ranked #6 in the country. But this thing can unravel REALLY quickly if you don't keep working, if you start to take opponents lightly, if you don't continue to respect what it took to get you to this point.

This team has been unbelievably resilient and focused for the most part this year. But all of that can change in the blink of an eye.

If this team stays "humble and hungry," and focused, there's no telling how far they can go.

[franklinmint]

Be seeing you at the tournament this year,NTU?

This year's going to be wild.

[sdsuaztecs]

all you peaps with twitter send this article out to Malcolm, D.J and the crew

[jcljorgenson]

It would be awesome if Fisher could bring Bill Walton in to speak to the team sometime before the BYU game. I bet he would do it.

[longtimebooster]

Jan 17, 2011 20:11:21 GMT -8 aztec4life09 said:

Great article, but honestly couldn't they have chosen a picture with, say, some fans???

You mean like on the FRONT PAGE of the UT? Check out today's print edition.

[Deleted]

Jan 17, 2011 23:14:59 GMT -8 NTU said:

if you start to take opponents lightly, if you don't continue to respect what it took to get you to this point.

this team is dialed in. We're NOT going undefeated. We will get beat- I think as many as 3 times. But it won't be from taking opponents lightly.

[longtimebooster]

I had a chance to work with Bill W. on a project last year. It was great fun. I talked to him about SDSU just prior to the Tennessee game. He's very passionate about the Aztecs and is a big, big Steve Fisher fan. His son Chris still comes to the games (in spite of some of the guys here who ragged on him when he played.) I was attending a forum at which Bill was present. Of course, I cornered Bill during the breakfast reception and talked basketball with him for 15 minutes. The guy leading the forum asked me to say a few words about a particular business topic. When it came time for me to speak, the moderator introduced me, went through my business background and then told everyone I had a degree from Stanford. Big Bill stood up and boomed, "No, no. That's not right. He's a proud Aztec from San Diego State, which has a much better basketball team than Stanford." It was tremendous. So, is Bill on the SDSU bandwagon? Yeah, I'd say so.

[jcljorgenson]

When I played HS summer league at Muni Gym near Balboa park, Walton would occasionally be shooting around and was a very easy going guy. He would often get rebounds for the kids and make small talk. It was a very memorable experience for me and many other kids.

[aztecfankrishnan]

Way to "Throw it Down Big Man!"

[NTU]

Jan 17, 2011 23:28:04 GMT -8 franklinmint said:

Be seeing you at the tournament this year,NTU?

This year's going to be wild.

Probably not. $$$ issues, ya know. I did make it out for the championship game last year (the advantage of being within driving distance of Vegas). Might do the same this year.